Corfu Best Highlights Half Day Private tour

Corfu Highlights

• Achillion Palace
• Kanoni
• Corfu Old Town
• Corfu Old Fortress

Your adventure begins with a journey to the enchanting Achillion Palace, a 19th-century haven created for Empress Elizabeth of Austria, affectionately known as “Princess Sissi.” As you meander through the palace’s exquisite gardens, you’ll be greeted by a collection of statues celebrating Greek mythology and history, including depictions of the nine Muses and the formidable statue of Achilles, the palace’s namesake and a hero of Greek legend. Step inside the palace to unveil the captivating narrative of Princess Sissi, exploring rooms adorned with her personal effects and ornate furnishings, each piece whispering stories of royal intrigue and timeless elegance.

The journey continues to Kanoni, a vantage point offering breathtaking vistas of Corfu’s emblematic Pontikonissi, or Mouse Island. Here, amidst the panoramic views of the Ionian Sea, you’ll capture memories through your lens, immortalizing the beauty of one of Greece’s most photographed scenes.

Next, we venture into the heart of Corfu Town. As you stroll through the Old Town, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, the charm of this historic enclave unfolds. The labyrinthine “Kantounia” lead you on a discovery of unique architecture and cultural treasures. Pay homage at the church of St. Spyridon, explore the imposing Old Fortress, and admire the regal Palace of St. Michael and St. George. Along the way, immerse yourself in local traditions, perhaps pausing in Liston square for a taste of Greek coffee, its design inspired by Paris’s Rue de Rivoli, blending Corfiot culture with continental sophistication.

As the day winds down, you’ll return to your hotel or the Corfu port, with your heart and camera full of the island’s splendors. This journey through Corfu’s landscapes and legacies promises not just a day of exploration but a lifetime of cherished memories, set against the backdrop of this Ionian paradise.

Private Tours are personal and flexible just for you and your party.

Inclusions:

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ADMISSION FEES FOR SITES:

Achillion Palace: 10€ per person

Achillion:

The stunning appearance of this palace takes the visitor back in history when the palace was inhabited by two great figures from European history whose only common bond was their adoration for Corfu, Greece and its culture, Empress Elisabeth of Austria (known as ‘Sissi’) and Kaiser William II of Germany.
Empress Elisabeth built the palace to escape the tragedies of her life, and William II purchased it after her untimely death. William II, however, never had a chance to enjoy the palace’s beauty because of a war that broke out, from his own doing.
During the First and Second World War the palace was abandoned and inevitably pillaged by the enemy. After years of rebuilding and restoration, the palace was finally restored to its former beauty.

Empress Elisabeth
Empress Elisabeth, a mythological figure, who was renowned for her beauty, intellect, and her liberal attitude, gained great popularity from the historical film ‘Sissi’, in which the famous German actress – Romy Schneider performed as the Empress.
Elizabeth was born in 1837 in the house of Posenhoffen, Bavaria, Germany. Before Elisabeth turned sixteen, following a short affair, married Frans-Joseph I of the Hapsburg Dynasty. Because of the many issues that troubled her, Elisabeth was driven to leave the royal court numerous times and travel to other places as a means of release. In some of these trips Elisabeth visited Corfu, where she resided for three months, captivated by Corfu’s landscapes. Elisabeth returned often to her beloved Corfu, and to other parts of Greece where she was educated in the Greek language and culture by many teachers, one of them being Constantine Christomas, who was rumored to have had a platonic relationship with the Empress.
Between the years 1867 and 1889, Elisabeth was tormented by many tragic and unpleasant events that occurred during that time. Events, such as the untimely demise of her son, prince to the crown, Prince Rudolf shocked the Empress’s world, and drove her away from Vienna, in search of refuge at Corfu, where she dealt with her sorrows. At Gastouri, she began rebuilding her palace which was completed in 1891. The Empress herself decorated the inner and exterior parts of the palace with pieces of art from Greek mythology and history. The name Achilleion was given to the palace because of her unique passion towards the central hero in the mythological story, the Iliad and the Trojan War. Unworthy of such a tormented life, Empress Elisabeth was murdered on a trip to Switzerland in the year 1898. After her unfortunate death, the palace of Achilleion remained uninhabited for 9 years.

Kaiser of Germany
It was the King of Greece, George I, that proposed the idea of buying the palace of Achilleion to the Kaiser (Emperor) of Germany, William II. The Kaiser bought the Achilleion in the year 1907 after 2 years of negotiations.
The Kaiser being the master of the palace, began making changes to the palace, such as the moving the statue of the ‘Dying Achilles’. In its place he erected the huge statue of the ‘Victorious Achilles’ which was more suited to his personality. He also removed the statue of the Gennan poet -Heine which Elisabeth had liked and had placed in the forest below the palace, and to house his personal guard the Kaiser built a large building next to the palace. One of the things that the Kaiser took care of first was the restoration of the beautiful gardens of the palace, which had not been seen to in over 9 years. For this reason, he brought famous agriculturalists, gardeners, and rare trees and plants. These trees and plants that still live in the gardens in our times.
The Emperor was active contributor to the archeological digs of Saint Theodore, in Garitsa. There, with the help of the well-known German archaeologist William Doerpfeld they discovered the findings that are housed in the Museum of Corfu, with their most important founding, the Mermaid. The last thing that the Kaiser had constructed was the look-out tower at Peleka where one can see a large part of the island. He would have done a lot more, however his trip to Corfu in 1914 was destined to become his last.

During the great wars
Corfu was occupied on the December of 1915 from the French and the Serbian armies, during the First World War. During this occupation the armies turned the Achilleion palace into a military headquarters and hospital. The fact that the Germans were the enemy was to the greatest extend at fault for the many disasters that befell the palace onto the parts of the palace that were of Kaisers making. To this day it remains unknown how many statues and other precious items were lost at that period.
After the end of the war, following the “Treaty of Versailles” in 1919, the palace became the property of the Greek state. In peacetime, many items of furniture were sold off by auction, scattering the pieces far and wide, sadly lost to Achilleion forever. During World War II, Achilleion was again occupied by foreign troops – this time the Germans and Italians as a military headquarters and hospital and was again abused. After the war, the Achilleion came under the management umbrella of the Hellenic Tourist Organisation (HTO).

Pontikonissi:

You cannot leave Corfu, if you do not visit the famous Pontikonissi and the church opposite to it, Panagia Vlacherna, which have been floating for centuries on the Chalkiopoulos lagoon just 4 km south of the city. Capture the panoramic view from Kanoni and then go downhill to the church of Virgin Mary Vlachernon, which is joined to the land through a narrow pedestrian bridge. The lush Pontikonissi, right opposite, was, according to a legend, the ship of the Phaeacians, the one who carried Odysseus and was transformed into a rock by wrathful Poseidon. Today, all you can see there is the Pantokratoras church and the well, where visitors throw coins to fulfill their most worthy wishes!

Corfu Old Town:

Corfu old town is a perfect example of ancient Venetian and Byzantine art that will fascinate you with its little streets and panoramic points.
The old Corfu town, built in the past between the two fortresses, has been developed with high buildings as consequence of the increasing number of the population. All these houses, one next to the other, have been built of local stones, with wooden attics and handmade tiles. Fortunately, the number of buildings damaged by the Second World War is not so big, and today the charm of the old town of Corfu is preserved and can still remind us of the past.
During its history, Corfu Island attracted attention of many conquerors for its strategic position into the Mediterranean Sea.
Every single building, every single street will appear like an open museum, but the joie de vivre of the local people will remind you that the old town is also full of life and surprises.
The paved streets and the ancient buildings will bring you to the large, beautiful Esplanade and the romantic gallery of Liston; a place that you can’t miss to visit. The Esplanade of the old Corfu town is a large green area between the town and the old fortress. Its name comes from the complete absence of buildings that was important during the past to defend the town from foreign enemies. Today a large part of Corfu’s Esplanade is changed into a beautiful public park full of trees and garden seats, while a small part of the Esplanade still hosts the old English cricket field.
Along the west side of the Esplanade there’s also a marvelous building that reminds us of the old French occupation: the Liston. It was built by the French engineer Lesseps who was inspired by the Rue Rivoli in Paris. The Liston with its nice gallery full of coffee shops and restaurants is today the heart of the social life in Corfu.
Due to the ancient English domination, near the Esplanade, on the north side, there’s also the Royal Palace of Corfu, also called St. Michele and St. Giorgio palace. Built in 1820 under G.Whithmore Army General is the only Georgian art example in all the Mediterranean area. Used in the past firstly by English and then by the Greek Royal Family, today it hosts the Museum of Asiatic Arts, the Historical Archive, and the Classic Relics Authority of Corfu.

An amazing walk starts from the St. Giorgios Arch, next to the Corfu Royal Palace. As you pass the great arch, you have just to follow the road that runs alongside the sea which will take you down to the entrance of the old town of Corfu. This road follows the ancient walls of Kerkyra and you will pass near historical buildings such as the church of Panaghia “Antivouniotissa”, the Byzanthine museum, the old port and the ancient arch of St. Nicholas.

Corfu Old Castle:

The historical centre of Corfu town is delimited by the two fortresses.
Along the east side there’s the ancient fortress on the sea, while on the west side there’s the new one.
During the past the two fortresses of Corfu were linked by large walls, so that the inhabitants could live safe inside. The walls were destroyed and today there are only two of the four gates of the town. One is called “Porta di Spilia” (Spilia gate),  just in front of the old port. The second one is the gate of San Nicola, placed under the level of the coast road, at the end of the Esplanade.

Old fortress
When during the VI century the old town of Corfu placed in Kanoni peninsula (the Paleopoli) was destroyed by the invaders, the survivors decided to build the town again, but in a safer area. Later the town has been preserved by the creation of a fortress around it: the OLD FORTRESS that takes up all the small island at the east end of Corfu town.
The entrance of the Old Fortress is placed just in front of the Liston, near Corfu’s Esplanade.
You will be impressed by the massive bastions, a real masterpiece of military architecture in old times.
To get in, you just have to cross the short bridge that links the fortress with the town of Corfu. The large ditch that divides the fortress from the town is used today as a docked for fishing boats.
A short visit let you understand why this area was the ideal place to create a fortress.
As it is surrounded by the sea, the fortress was in fact used both to defend Corfu town, and to check the near coast.
The creation of this fortress was started under Byzantine domination and later, under the Venetian occupation, was changed the structure to defend better Corfu town from Turkish.
Venetian people, during their occupation, worked also to make the ramparts stronger and smooth.
From here by a covered stair, you can access to the hearth of the citadel. A hallway on your left will take you also to the higher part of the fortress. At the end of the hallway there’s also a small path that conduces to the ancient barracks, while along the south side of the hill you can visit the little church of St. George.
This little church was built in 1840 by English a later has been adorned with icons coming from St. Spyridon church still present in the old Corfu town.
Inside the fortress there are different buildings such as a prison built in 1786 by Venetians and made it bigger in a second moment by English.
Not far from the prison you can also visit the military church called “Madonna of Carmini” and an ancient military hospital converted today into a music school.
Inside the fortress, near the principal gate there’s the historical archive that gather up more than 6 centuries of Corfu history.
Inside this archive there are many old documents and the Corfu Byzantine Collection that includes icons, sculptures, and paintings of the Byzantine period.
Apart from the historical and cultural point of view, the Old Fortress offers also a stunning view overlooking the town of Corfu and the Ionian Sea between the island and the mainland.

New fortress
The new fortress is massive, and you can see it on your left when you’re arriving to the port with the ferryboat.
Under the supervision of the Italian architect Francesco Vitelli, the New Fortress of Corfu was built between 1576 and 1645 and many buildings were crashed in order to have enough material to build the fortress.
It was partially destroyed during the Second World War, but the new fortress is still lovely with its old, paved access road and its gate with the ancient lions that are the Venetian symbols.
The new fortress is placed just above the old port and it’s full of underground tunnels that run till the old fortress and the old Corfu town.

All cancellations must be confirmed by Olive Sea Travel.

Regarding the Day Tours:

Cancellations up to 4 days before your service date are 100% refundable.

Cancellation Policy:

• Licensed Tour Guides and Hotels are external co-operators & they have their own cancellation policy.
• Apart from the above cancellation limits, NO refunds will be made. If though, you fail to make your appointment for reasons that are out of your hands, that would be, in connection with the operation of your airline or cruise ship or strikes, extreme weather conditions or mechanical failure, you will be refunded 100% of the paid amount.
• If your cancellation date is over TWO (2) months away from your reservation date, It has been known for third-party providers such as credit card companies, PayPal, etc. to charge a levy fee usually somewhere between 2-4%.
• Olive Sea Travel reserves the right to cancel your booking at any time, when reasons beyond our control arise, such as strikes, prevailing weather conditions, mechanical failures, etc. occur. In this unfortunate case, you shall be immediately notified via the email address you used when making your reservation and your payment WILL be refunded 100%.